My Journey to Becoming a Xero Ambassador

In 2013, Justin Hobbs called me repeatedly about trying Xero - calls I initially ignored. At the time, Accountingprose was using Quickbooks Desktop hosted with Right Networks, and despite our struggles, I hesitated to make a change. We were paying high software costs ($65/user) while feeling like every task required wading through mud. Year-end work was particularly daunting with manual processes like printing and mailing documents, and exchanging data files with CPAs and clients. By January 31st, my entire team was ready to hide under their desks until busy season ended.

After surviving the January 1099 deadline, I finally decided enough was enough. There had to be a smarter way to work without paying exorbitant software fees.

Testing the Waters

In early 2014, I partnered with our client Brushfire Interactive to beta test Xero. We kept both systems running simultaneously to evaluate potential time savings and determine if Xero was truly as easy as their promotional videos suggested. Could we really cut our work time in half while reducing software costs by two-thirds?

After just one month of exploration, the answer was clear - Xero was the future for our practice. It was faster, more intuitive, less expensive, and eliminated countless frustrations. Gone were the broken backups, unreliable bank feeds, and tedious manual entries that had plagued us for years.

Making the Leap

Once we committed to Xero, we moved quickly. We provided the Xero conversion team with our Quickbooks Desktop backups and carefully communicated the change to our clients. We sent detailed emails explaining the benefits, walked clients through their new files, and ensured everyone felt comfortable with the transition.

The results exceeded our expectations - we didn't lose a single client. In fact, the move strengthened our relationships as clients recognized our intention: to deliver better service, save them money, and provide more valuable insights for their businesses. The transition wasn't just a win for us; it benefited everyone involved.

From User to Advocate

Following our successful migration, I made it a priority to connect with the Xero team. I joined calls with their development team to suggest improvements, and worked with their marketing and sales departments, offering my time to speak with potential Xero users and partners.

I believed in sharing real-world experience rather than sales pitches. And since Accountingprose carefully manages growth by focusing on specific verticals, I was happy to refer construction and other non-core clients to my growing network of Xero accountants who shared our vision. This collaboration created wins for everyone in our ecosystem.

The XPAC Experience

After about a year of advocacy, Xero invited me to join their Partner Advisory Council (XPAC). This group of accounting innovators collaborated to improve both Xero and the accounting profession as a whole. We worked directly with design, development, and sales teams to turn our ideas into reality.

Each XPAC member serves a two-year term, which initially seemed lengthy but flew by quickly. When my term ended in May 2017, I thought my days of influencing Xero's direction might be over - until they called again in July with an invitation to become a Xero Ambassador!

The Ambassador Role

As of August 2017, I'm officially a Xero Ambassador. This role lets me continue all the activities I love: running the monthly Denver Xero Meetup Group, hosting webinars, speaking with prospective users, providing input on the software's direction, and helping fellow accounting professionals grow their practices.

I get to maintain relationships with the amazing Xero team and user community while continuing to run Accountingprose independently. It truly offers the best of both worlds!

On LinkedIn, you'll now see "Xero Ambassador - Colorado" on my profile, with responsibilities including:

• Helping accountants build profitable, enjoyable practices through beautiful accounting software and powerful add-ons

• Hosting #XeroHour monthly

• Creating engaging blog content, articles, and webinars

• Having the most fun ever

I'm thrilled about this opportunity to connect with more amazing people, dream bigger, and elevate everyone in the accounting industry. Together, Accountingprose and Xero will make a meaningful difference in the lives of accountants and their clients.